Knitting-machine



0. F. C. KUNAU.

KNITTING MACHINE. APPLiCATION man SEPT 12. 1919.

1 387,783, Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

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KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 12' 1919.

1,387,783. Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

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KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 12, 1919.

1,387,783, Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

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3 3 v 7 v 3 3/2 06 fi m .4 INVENTOR Z306 3/ 7 t ATTOXNEF UNITED STATES .OSCAIR. F. G. KUNAU, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

KN ITTING-MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16', 1921.

Application filed September 12, 1919. Serial No. 323,335.

T 0 all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Oscar: F. C. Kermit, a subject of the King of England, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knitting- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that type of knitting machines in which a plurality of vertical needles are mounted on an upright cylinder for producing tubular knitting and a plurality of horizontal needles are guided on a dial at the upper end of the cylinder for producing ribbing on the tubular knit goods, although some features of my invention are useful in a machine in which the ribbing mechanism is omitted.

Heretofore it has been the practice to make the cam which operates the vertical needles in one piece with the rotary actuating shell, and this necessitates employing shells of different diameters to match the cylinders of different diameters when the machine was changed from one size to another to produce tubular knitting of the desired diameter. hen changing the machine to roduce ribbing on knit work of different sizes, it has also been customary to employ a separate tappet plate for each size of dial to barmonize with the respective cylinder. also to employ arms of different lengths to support the companion dial and tappet plate upon the rotary shell, also to employ different sizes of shells having cams for operating the vertical needles and also to employ horizontal needles of different length corresponding to the size of the tubular ribbed knit work. Such a construction is objectionable on account of the unnecessarily large number of parts which not only involved needless expense but also required considerable space to store such parts which for the time were not in use, and also necessitated undue care to avoid loss of parts and delay in operating the machine.

The present invention is designed primarily to reduce the number of parts required to produce tubular knit \\'()I'{ of different sizes with and without ribbing, and to accomplish this in a manner which is simple, moderate in cost and capable of being easily changed from one size to another.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a circular knitting machine embodying my improv ments, the section being taken through the yarn carrier and the vertical needle cams. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the tappet plate and associated parts taken on line 22, Fig. 8, this section being at right angles to the corresponding parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the bed plate or main frame and the means for adjusting the ribber dial. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detached perspective views of the interchangeable fixed cams or cam sections whereby the dial needles are moved outwardly. Fig. 7 is a. bottom plan view of the tappet plate constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 10 is a. detached bottom view of the tappet plate switch. Fig. 11 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 12 is a detached top plan view of the relatively fixed section of the tappct plate. Fig. 13 is a section thereof taken on line 13-13, Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a bottom plan of the tension cam section of the tap pet plate. Fig. 15 is a top plan View of the tension adjusting pointer. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the screw connecting the tension cam section and the adjusting pointer. Fig. 1'? is a top view of the cover washer forming part of the tappet plate switch. Fig. 18 is a top plan view of the segment forming part of the mechanism for adjusting the position of the tappet plate circumferentially. Fig. 19 is a fragmentary side elevation, on a reduced scale, of the rotary shell and the ribber arm supported thereon. Fig. 20 is a fragmentary inside view, on a reduced scale, of the vertical needle cam mechanism showing the same organized with the shell as an active part thereof. Fig 21 is a similar view, showing one of the changeable cam rings as parts of the means for operatlng the vertical needles.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

20 represents the bed plate or main frame of the machine which is substantially of circular form and provided on its periphery with an annular upwardly facing guide shoulder. bearing or rabbet 21. On this hearing runs a gear ring 22 which may be turned in any suitable manner, but preferably by a gear wheel 23 meshing therewith and mounted on the main frame and provided with a handle 24 for turning the same.

To the ripper side of the main frame or bed plateis detachably secured an upright needle cylinder 25 which latter has its lower end resting on the bed plate and detachably secured to the same by screws 26 so that a cylinder of larger or smaller diameter may be used in the machine depending on the size of the knit goods it is desired'to produce. On its exterior thiscylinder is provided with an annular row of upright gulde' grooves 27 in which upright knitting needles 28 are adapted to slide vertically for causlng the same to cooperate by the hooks at their upper ends with other parts for producing tubular knit work; The yarn or thread for this purpose is supplied to the hooks at the upper ends of these needles by means is organized for doing tubular knit work with or, WlllllOUb r1bb1ng,-the same is u ilized as part of a cam mechanism 'loroperating the vertlcal needles. For this purpose the supporting shell, as shown in F1gs. l4: and

' 20, is provided with a dwell or main cam mounted on the supporting ring.

"pressedby the downthrow cam section 33 section 301 which is adapted to engage the butt3 7 of the vertical needles 2S and hold the same in a neutral position about midway between the upper and lower ends of their strokes, two upthrow cam sections 302, 303 which are pivoted by pins 30 1- to the inner side ofthe supporting ring and are adapted to lift the vertical needles for forming a new stitch, a lower lifting cam section 805 arranged on the supporting ring between the upthrow cam sections. and a downthrow or tension cam section 33 arranged above and between said upthrow cam sections and As the supporting ring rotates the butts of the vertical needles are lifted from the dwell on main cam'sectlon 301 by the advancing up throw cam sections 302 or 303, then de below the plane of the dwell section, and

' then again raised by the lower lifting cam section 305 to the dwellsection 301, during which last mentioned movement, of the supporting ring the butts of the vertical needles "pass under the trailing upthrow cam and are not affected by the latter. Upon rock- 'ing the supporting ring or shell for producing closing-up knittwork, such as the heel or toe of a stick? the upthrow cam sections operate alternately as active and idle cam sectiensin a manner common to this t of machine. The downthrow or tension cam section may be raised and lowered to produce the desired tension on the thread by an adjusting device which preferably 111- cludes an u righttension pin or serewtt mounted at its lower end in the supportmg ring and passing with its upper part through a perforated lug 307 projecting laterally the tension cam sections, a screw nut arranged on the tension pin and bearing against the upper side of the supporting lug 3G7, and a spring 36 surrounding the lower part of the tension pin interposed between the supporting ring and the underside of the supporting lug, as shown in Fig. l. V p

lVhen it is desired to make tubular knit goods of smaller diameter a: cylinder 25 of smaller diameter is substitutedfor the one in use and cam mechanism of proportionately smaller diameter is employed l or operating the vertical needles, but when such change is ellected for doing smaller work in the machine the main or dwell cam section 301 and lower lifting cam section 305 are not utilized, nor is the downt-hrow or tensioncam section and the supporting lug 30'? co operating with the cam sections of the sup porting ring 30 used for doing; smaller diameter to suit the reduced diameter of the p cylinder are employed. This cam ringis detachably secured to the inner side kot the supporting ringby a screw 32 and is provided with a main or dwell cam section 306, two oppositely facing upthrow cam Sections 309, 2-510, pivoted by pins 312 on. the inner side of the cam ring, and a lower lifting cam section 308 arranged between and below the upthrow cam sections and leading up to the dwell cam section, as shown in Fig. 21. The downthrow cam section 330 used at this time inconnection with the cam ring 3lis arranged. nearer the axis of the cylinder and for this reason the same is provided with a lon 'er supporting lug 307 in order to permit of adjustably mounting the same on the a tension pin 34: and engaging the same by the screw nut 35 and spring 36. Vi hen the machine is thus equipped with this cam mechanism of smaller diametercthe operation of its cam sections on the. vertical needles is the same as thatpreviously described with reference to the cam mechanism in which the supporting shell ESQ-formed a part. It is to be understood that the supporting. shell is used as a part of the machine both when its cam sections are actually used and also when the same are dormant and the cam sections on a separate ring are used actively instead. r

Heretofore a supporting shell with cam sections appropriate toeach size of cylinder was provided which necessitated replacing shell.

the shell whenever a change in the diameter of the cylinder was desired and this involved an expense considerably greater than the present construction in which the supporting shell always forms a part either directly or indirectly of the cam mechanism whereby the vertical needles are actuated.

Adjacent to the upper end of the cylinder and concentrically therewith is arranged a horizontal dial 38 provided on its upper side with a plurality of radial guide grooves 39 in which slide a plurality of horizontal needles 40, the hooks at the outer ends of which are adapted to co5perate with the hooks of the vertical needles for producing ribs on the tubular knit work. This dial is normally fixed but capable of rotary adjustment for bringing the dial needles in line with the spaces between the cylinder needles, in order to prevent interference between the same. For this purpose, the dial is pivotally supported on the lower end of an upright post 41 which is arranged axially in line with the cylinder. At its upper end this post is secured in a sleeve 42 on the upper overhanging part of a ribber arm 43 the lower vertical end 44 of which is constructed in the form of a circular shank which is detachably seated in a socket 45 on the upper edge of the shell, as shown in Figq19. The ribber arm is held against turning about its shank 44 by a vertical guide pin 46 projecting downwardly from a bracket 47 on this arm into a vertical opening 48 in the shell and the ribber arm may be adjusted vertically for bringing the parts mounted thereon into the proper position relatively to other parts by an upright adjusting screw 49 arranged on the bracket 47 and-engaging with the upper edge of the In the past it has been customary to supply a plurality of ribber arms with each machine each arm having the distance between the centers of its outer shank 44 and its inner sleeve 42 different from that of other arms in order to properly support a dial of larger or smaller diameter on a shell having a diameter corresponding to the particular cylinder and dial. In the present case only one ribber arm is employed inasmuch as the same is used in connection with the same shell, thereby effecting a considerable economy in cost of manufacture.

The dial is held against turning by means which are so constructed as to permit of accurately adjusting the dial relatively to the cylinder. These means, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, are constructed as follows 50 represents an upright adjusting lever arranged within the cylinder and adapted to be engaged at its upepr end by a stop lug 51 on the underside of the dial for arresting rotation of the latter. Between its upper and lower arms the adjusting lever is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane by pivotally mounting the same on the inner end of an adjusting screw 52. The latter is arranged horizontally and 'adially and works in a threaded opening 53 on the lower part of the bed plate or main frame and its outer end is provided with a finger piece or button 54 for turning the same. lVhenever the screw 52 is turned in one direction or the other, the adjusting lever is carried bodily toward and from the axes of the cylinder and dial and thus permits the upper end of this lever to be brought into the path of the stop lug 51 of dials of large or small diameter when changing the machine from one size of work to another. On its lower arm the adjusting lever is provided with a laterally projecting finger 55 which has a slot 56. In this slot is arranged the lower part of a stop adjusting screw 57 which is connected at its upper end with the lower part of the bed plate or main frame. A screw nut 58 on the lower end of the Stl'CW 57 bears against the underside of the finger 55 and a spring 59 surrounds this screw be tween the upper side of this finger and the underside of the bed plate. By turning the screw nut 58 in one direction or the other, the adjusting lever is rocked about its fulcrum, thereby enabling its upper end to be brought in the proper position to be engaged by the stop lug 51 and to arrest the dial when its needles interpose those of the cylinder. lVhen the adjusting lever is moved radially by the radial screw 52 the finger 55 slides by means of its slot 56 on the screw 57, thereby enabling the same dial adjusting device to be used in connection with (litterent sizes of cylinders and dials.

The radially reciprocating movement of the horizontal or dial needles for producing the ribbing on the knit goods is imparted thereto by means which are constructed in accordance with my invention and which permit of readily changing the diametrical size of the machine with less parts than have been necessary heretofore for this purpose. The improved means for accomplishing this purpose are constructed as follows: I

Above the dial is arranged a rotary tappet plate which is composed of a relativel fixed plate section 60 whi h is immovable radially relatively to the xis of the dial and an adjustable plate section 61 which is adjustable radially with reference to the axis of the dial. The fixed tappet section is provided on its inner part with an upwardly-projecting tubular hub or sleeve 62 which is mounted on the post 41 between the upper and lower ends thereof, and the adjustable tappet plate section is connected with the companion fixed plate section by a radial guide tongue 63 arranged on the fixed plate section. a radial slot 64 in the adjustable plate section which receives said tongue, and two clamping screws 65 secured to the adj ustable plate section and passing through slots 66 formed in flanges G7 oi the fixed plate and resting on the adjustable plate, said slots being parallel with said tongue of the fixed plate, as best shown in Figs. 2, 7 8 and 12. By loosening the screws 65 the adj USt-zllJlG plate may be moved radially relatively to the fixed plate and the axis of the dial and cylinder, and then heldin position by tightening these screws. The sections of the tappet plate are coupled with the ribber arm so that the same turn in unison with the yarn carrier and the cams which actuate the vertical needles. The means for this purpose shown in the drawings are similar to those commonly employed for this purpose, and comprise a timing segment 68 secured to the top of the fixed tappet plate section by a screw 68) passing through a segmental slot 70 in the segment 68 and a drivingpin 71 movable vertically in the ribber arm into and out of engagement with a coupling opening 72 in the timing segment. On the underside of the tappet plate sections are mounted thecam sections which operate on the butts '73 of the dial needles for causing the latter to move inwardly and outwardly at the proper time for producing the ribbing eil'eet. These dial cam sections comprise an interchangeable inner cam section 7 L which is mounted on the fixed tappet plate section, an outthrow cam section "('5 mounted on the adjustable tappet plate SBClJlOlhllIl adjustable inthrow cam section 76 mounted on the adjustable tappet plate section, and a fixed inthrow cam section 98 arranged on the adjustable plate, said cam sections being so arranged relatively to each other that they form an innercam path or groove 77 be tween the inner cam section L and said outthrow cam section 75, an outer cam path 7 8 between the outthrow and the adjustable inthrow cam sections 75, 76, and a common return cam path 79 between the inner cam section and the adjustable and fixed inthrow cam sections, as best shown in Fig. 7 Adj a cent to the entrance of the inner and outer cam paths is arranged a switch whereby the butts oi. the dial needles may be directed from the receding or dwell side of the inner cam section 74 into either the inner cam path or into the outer cam path for causing the dial needles to either remain in their inoperative or retracted position when no ribbing effect is" desired, or causing needles to be alternately pushed outwardly and inwardly during each cycle of operations of the machine when it is desired to produce ribbing effect. This switch in its preferred formcomprises a rotary head 80 pivoted at 81 onthe underside of the adjustable tappet plate section and provided on its inner part with an outthrow switch cam section 82 and on its outer part with an inthrow switch cam section 83. By turning the switch so that the switch outthrow section 82 clears the entrance to the inner cam path 77 and the switch inthrow section 83 obstructs the outer cam path 78, as shown in Fig. 7, then the butts of the dial needles will move through the inner cam path and remain neutral, but if the switch is turned so that the outthrow section 82 ot' the same obstructs the entrance of the inner cam path and the inthrow switch section 88 clears the entrance to the outer cam path, then the butts ot the needles will be directed into the outer cam path, so that the needles during each rotation of the ma chine will be projected and retracted and produce a, ribbing effect. The turning of the switch is preferably efiected from the top of the tappet plate by a stem 84: projecting from the switch upwardly through a slot- 85 in the adjustable tappet plate section, a

handle 86 connected with the upper end of said stem and a coverrrplate 87 applied to said stem and extending over said slot 85. The adjustable inthrow cam section is provided at one end by a pin on the underside of theadjustable tappet plate section, while its opposite end is moved inwardly or outwardly for varying the tension which the dial needles at this time produce on the ribbing, this adjustment being effected, for example, by an adjusting pointer 89 pivotally connected by a screw 90 with the inthrow cam section 7 6 and fulcrumed at one end by a pin 99 to the top of the adjustable tappet plate section, while its opposite end traverses a scale or row of graduations 91 on said tappet plate section. The inner cam section ta is detachablymounted on the underside of the fixed tappetplate section by providing this cam section with a central opening '92 which receives the lower end of the hub or sleeve 62 and a key 93 arranged on the lower part of this'sleeve and engaging with a notch 94 in the wall of the opening 93, thereby interlocking the inner cam with the tappet plate and holding these parts against turning.

WVhen it is desired to increase or decrease the throw of the cam which operates the dial needles, an inner cam section 74 of the proper size, corresponding to the diameter of the dial and cylinder selected, is applied to the sleeve 62 of the-fixed tappet plate section and the adjustable tappet plate section 6]. is moved radially inwardly or outwardly into the required position so that the cam sections therein will cooperate properly with the inner cam section 74-. As shown in Figs. 4:, ,5 and 6, three sizes of inner cam sections are provided which in practice are suitable for producing tubular knit fabric having 3%, 4 and 4-;- inches in diameter, and when changing one size of inner cam section for another, an interchange of cylinders and dials of corresponding diametersis also eifected. The construction of the cam members on the adjustable tappet plate section is'so determined that the same operate efliciently with any one of the several sizes of inner cam sections, this being accomplished by making the cam sections on the adjustable tappet plate of composite form, or in other words, compromising their essential working surfaces so that they will work sucressfully with inner cam section Tl of different diameters. It is to be understood that the numher and size of inner cam sections to be used may be varied as desired. By thus making the tappet plate in sections which are adjustable relatively to each other and mounting some of the dial needle operating cam sections permanently on one of the tappet plate sections and providing interchangeable inner cam sections any one of which may be mounted on the other tappet plate section, the number of parts required for changing the machine from one size of tubular knitting to another is materially reduced compared with machines as heretofore con structed in which a different size of tappet plate was required for each size of work, each tappet plate having a complete set of cam sections thereon as well as a switch and associated parts for producing ribbing corresponding to one size of tubular knit work.

Heretofore it has been necessary to employ a plurality of sets of horizontal or dial needles, each set being of a length different from the length of the other sets, in order to permit of changing the machine from one diameter of knit work to another size or diameter. This was due largely to the fact that when smaller work was done the needles were arranged closer to the post all and therefore necessitated using shorter needles in order to avoid conflict with the periphery of this post. To overcome this difficulty the post 41 in the present case is provided with an annular groove or notch 410 in line with the path of the dial needles, as shown in F 1. This provides the necessary clearance or space in rear of the dial needles into which the heels of these needles can project when setting up the machine for the smaller sizes of work. This permits of using the same length of dial needles for tubular work of various diameters and avoids the inconvenience as well as the expense of keeping more than one size of needle on hand.

It will therefore be obvious that by the reduction in the number of parts for accomplishing certain sizes of work, this in1- proved machineis very elastic without incurring the expense heretofore attending the making of machines adaptable for varying sizes of work.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder provided with a plurality of vertical needles, a shell rotatable about said cylinder and provided with a. cam which actuates said vertical needles, a dial arranged above the cylinder and provided with a plurality of horizontal needles, and means for actuating said horizontal needles comprising a tappet plate rotatable with said shell and having a fixed section which is radially immovable relatively to the axis of rotation of said plate, an adjustable section which is connected with the fixed section but ad justable thereon in a direction radially to the axis of said tappet plate, a cam mechanism for actuating said horizontal needles (omprising inthrow cam sections which are mounted on said radially adjustable section of the tappet plate, and an interchangeable outthrow cam section mounted on said fixed tappet plate section.

2. A circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder provided with a plurality of vertical needles guided on said cylinder, a shell rotatable about said cylinder and pro vided with a cam which actuates said vertical needles, a dial arranged above the" cylinder and provided with a plurality of horizontal needles, and means for actuating said horizontal needles comprising a tappetplate rotatable with said shell and having a relatively fixed plate section which is radially immovable and provided with a radial tongue. and a radially tion which is provided with a radial slot for the reception of said tongue, and cam sections arranged on said plate sections and adapted to engage said horizontal needles.

8. A circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder provided with a plurality of vertical needles, a shell rotatable about said cylinder and provided with a cam which actuates said vertical needles, a dial arranged above the cylinder and provided with a plurality of horizontal needles. and means for actuating said horizontal needles comprising a tappet plate rotatable with said shell and having a relatively fixed plate section which is radially immovable and provided with a. radial tongue, a radially adjustable plate section which is provided with a radial slot for the reception of said tongue, cam sections arranged on said plate sections and adapted to engage said horizontal needles, and means for adjustably connecting said fixed and adjustable plate sections.

4. A circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder provided with a plurality of vertical needles, a shell rotatable about said cylinder and provided with a cam which actuates said vertical needles, a dial ar ranged above the cylinder and provided with a plurality of horizontal needles, and means for actuating said horizontal needles comprising a tappet plate rotatable with said shell and having a relatively fixed plate section which is radially immovable and provided with a radial tongue, and a radially adjustable plate secadjustable plate section which is provided with a radial slot for the reception of said tongue, cam sections arranged on said plate sections and adapted to engage said horizon tal needles, and means for adjustably connecting said fixed and adjustable plate sections comprising slots arranged in the fixed plate section, and screws secured to the adjustable plate section and passing through said slots.

5. A circular knitting machine comprising a clvlinder provided with a plurality of vertical needles, a shell rotatable about said cylinder and provided with a cam which actuates said vertical needles, a dial arranged above the -ylinder and provided with a plurality of horizontal needles, and means for actuating said horizontal needles comprising a tappet plate rotatable with said shell and having a fixed section which is radially immovable relatively to the axis of rotation of said plate and an adjustable section which is' connected with the fixed section but adjustable thereon in a direction radially to the axis of said tappet' plate, a cam mechanism for actuating said horizontal needles comprising cam sections which are mountedon said radially adjustable section of the tappet plate, and an interchangeable cam section mounted on said fixed tappet plate section, a post upon which said dial is journaled and to which said tappet plate is secured, and a ribber arm mounted" at its lower end on said shell and connected at its upper end with said post.

6. A circular knitting machine comprising a main frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame, vertical needles guided on the cylinder, a dial arranged above the cylinder and provided with a lug, horizontal needles guided on the dial, an adjusting lever adapted to engage said lug, and means for moving said lever bodily toward and from the axes of said cylinder and dial and also rocking the same about an axis arranged at right angles to the axis of said cylinder and dial and radial thereto.

7. A circular knitting machine comprising a main frame, a cylinder mounted on the frame, vertical needles guided on the cylinder, a dial arranged above the cylinder and provided with a lug, horizontal. needles guided on the dial, an adjusting lever adapt ed to engage said lug, and means for moving said lever bodily toward and from the axes of said cylinder anddial and also rocking the same about an axis arranged at right angles to the axis of said cylinder and dial and radial thereto comprising a radial adjusting screw pivotally supporting said lever and having a screw connection with said frame, a finger projecting laterally from the lower arm of said lever and having a slot, an upright adjusting screw connected with'the frame and projecting through said slot, a spring interposed between said frame and one side of said finger, and a screw nut arranged on said vertical screw and engaging with theother side of said finger.

OSCAR F. C. KUNAU. 

